The
Path of Shambhala
The Shambhala teachings are a path of meditation that is not religious and is open to anyone to any particular persuasion, be they Christian, Moslem, Hindu or even if they are agnostic or have no spiritual path at all. It is a path that grows basic goodness and confidence, fearlessness and confidence and connects with the richness of the phenomenal world.They were first introduced by the Vidyadhara,
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche to his Western students in 1976.
The Vidyadhara, or Dorje Dradul (his Shambhala honorific title),
had been schooled not only in Tibetan Buddhism, but also in
the ancient teachings of Shambhala. They have as their foundation
the legend of an enlightened kingdom whose first king received
specific teachings on warriorship from Shakyamuni Buddha.
Warriorship in this context is the tradition of human bravery,
or the tradition of fearlessness. Whether the kingdom of Shambhala
was mythological or real, the legend evokes the expression
of a deeply rooted human desire for a good and fulfilling
life.
Shambhala Education within
Satdharma
Satdharma continues the basic forms and materials of the original
Shambhala program created by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
and the Vajra Regent Ösel Tendzin. Shambhala Education
is a series of weekend levels which include meditation practice,
discussion, talks and contemplation. Levels are sequential
and the entire course is accomplished over a year and a half
period, culminating in a ten-day residential program.
Shambhala Levels
The introductory levels of Shambhala Education show how gentleness
and fearlessness exist in the human heart as a living experience.
This is becoming a warrior - one who has experienced what
it is like to conquer aggression towards oneself, and understands
how to manifest gentleness to others. The weekends are:
| Level I: Ordinary Magic |
Goodness, Sacredness and Confidence |
| Level II: Birth of the Warrior |
Obstacles to that Goodness and the discovery of Fearlessness |
| Level III: Warrior in the World |
Confidence in Daily Life |
| Level IV: Awakened Heart |
Unity of Intuition and Intellect |
| Level V: Open Sky, Primordial Stroke |
Opening Completely to Others |
The continuation of the Shambhala Education program explores
how to expand wisdom and skillful means in order to create
an enlightened society with others.
Participating in Shambhala
Levels
Shambhala Education levels at Satdharma are open to anyone.
For a schedule of upcoming Shambhala Levels, please see the
Program Schedule.
For information on Shambhala Education or to sign up for a
level, please e-mail Robert
Krupnick. |